The Mental Game

 

As in any sport, the mental game is crucial.  If you lose focus or for any reason think "that dog is better than mine" you've lost. You have no idea if that is better than yours or not.  If you don't believe you have a great dog worthy of winning, you have already lost.  More than one owner/handler has become discouraged by another handler, discussions in online forums that make them doubt the worthiness of their dog or a judges or instructors comment about their dog or handling skills.  I remember reading a woman's comments in an internet group about how horrible it was to have (fill in a fault).  She would do this right before a big show where her competitor would be. She would specifically mention that person's dog's faults to unnerve them before the show. It would force that person to focus on that fault and go in the ring with a neon sign on their forehead announcing it.  I don't condone that kind of thing.  But I do want to point out that it happens and you just can't let it get under your skin.  When I was new I didn't special several dogs because this happened to me. Then they started showing the breed rings at Westminster and I realized I was just crazy for not getting those dogs in the breed ring.  They would have cleaned up.

Self doubt is a killer.  Believe in your dog, build a relationship, work with then until showing in the ring is the most fun thing they do and you'll be showing a honed performance that can't be beat.  Sitting at the judges lunches I can tell you what some of them are thinking.  They may say how the dog is handled doesn't matter, trust me it does.  Most of them, regardless of how "correct" your dog is for doing what it was bred to do, has to actually look like a show dog and you had better show it like it's worth a million bucks.  

Before each class you need to know the mantra - "I have the best dog out there"  PERIOD.  Showing your own dog can be a great advantage as you have had the opportunity to build a tight relationship with fabulous body language.  You know you have the best dog.  You picked it, the breeder picked it for you or bred it and you know how great it is or you wouldn't have kept it.  Now translate that into your performance and you have the perfect recipe for success.  Even the most political judge will see you and you could have that mind-changing performance.   

Not a candidate for the group ring?  Think again.  Now that the AKC has started the National Owner Handler Series (NOHS), there is a very good chance that you could wind up in that group ring.  Now the money hits the road.  This is your chance to put it all together and really shine.  At first I thought this was a loser program but I am pretty dedicated to it now.  The pros have been weeded out like chaff and you are on your way to a group placement or even best in show.  I just did it and it feels pretty wonderful!  Let me show you how.